When considering the Framework Laptop 16 and the Gigabyte Aorus 15X, remember that the Framework emphasizes easy upgrades and repairability, potentially extending its lifespan and reducing long-term costs, while the Aorus may offer stronger gaming performance due to specialized hardware, but it may be heavier and have a shorter battery life. If you prioritize future-proofing and sustainability, the Framework could serve you well, especially for general use and work. On the other hand, if gaming or high-performance tasks are the priority and you don't mind a bulkier laptop with more frequent charging, the Aorus might be a better fit. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Framework Laptop 16 (2023)
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good overall build quality
Good battery life
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aorus 15X
Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
8.5/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X is very good for gaming and AI, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is only fair.
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X, with its high-end graphics card and fast screen refresh rate, provides a smoother and more immersive gaming and 3D experience, making it well-suited for demanding graphical tasks. In contrast, the Framework Laptop 16 has a less powerful graphics card and a lower screen refresh rate, which means it won't handle intense gaming or 3D applications as effectively, but it can still manage moderate use.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
8.6/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) are both very good for engineering and design, though the Gigabyte Aorus 15X is somewhat better.
The Framework Laptop 16, while offering high versatility and customization options for CPU, RAM, and GPU, provides a quality display and decent portability, making it a solid choice for engineering and design. However, the Gigabyte Aorus 15X stands out with superior performance due to its more powerful GPU and CPU, better suiting demanding engineering tasks despite being less portable and noisier under load.
Screen Quality
8.4/10
8.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
490.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
301.0 nits
The Framework Laptop 16 has a better screen than the Gigabyte Aorus 15X for general use, engineering and design, and software development.
When selecting a laptop for general use, the Framework Laptop 16's high resolution and brightness will deliver a clear and vibrant visual experience. For engineering and design work, its wide color gamuts such as DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB ensure accurate color representation which is crucial. However, for gaming and 3D tasks, its lower refresh rate may result in less fluid motion compared to laptops with higher refresh rates, impacting the visual fluidity and responsiveness during fast-paced activities.
Battery
9.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Framework Laptop 16 has 9 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte Aorus 15X has 5.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Build Quality
8.0/10
7.4/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte Aorus 15X has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to be very good for general use, while the Gigabyte Aorus 15X is good.
The Framework Laptop 16 is well-suited for general use with a focus on portability and screen quality, offering a comfortable balance between performance and battery life. In contrast, the Gigabyte Aorus 15X delivers high performance with superior CPU and RAM, tailored for users who prioritize power for demanding applications but may compromise on portability and battery longevity.
Content Creation
8.1/10
8.0/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) and Gigabyte Aorus 15X are both very good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.0/10
7.7/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to be very good for software development, while the Gigabyte Aorus 15X is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) and Gigabyte Aorus 15X both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,699
$1,600
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has a price of $1,699 and the Gigabyte Aorus 15X costs $1,600.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) and the Gigabyte Aorus 15X compare to other laptops
"The trend towards thinner and lighter laptops is made possible by fusing more and more components onto the mainboard. The main drawback to this approach is that it limits repairability as even a small fault may require replacing entire boards. Framework is one of the only manufacturers looking the other way in an attempt to improve end-user customization and servicing. There's no question that the Laptop 16 is more user-friendly to service than any alternative, but this lucrative feature comes at the cost of size and weight as individual components must be easily replaceable."
"The Gigabyte Aorus 15X is a strong showing of Raptor Lake and RTX 4000 series. While the Aorus had trouble keeping up in older games like Grand Theft Auto V, it nudged past the competition in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. It also flexed its next-generation muscle in Far Cry 6 and Borderlands 3. While we were impressed with the overall build quality and design of the Aorus 15X, the keyboard lacked good tactile feedback. The display performed well in real-world testing despite its on-paper shortcoming with brightness, but the speakers are lackluster at best."
Get a great deal on the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) or the Gigabyte Aorus 15X
About Framework
Framework is a new American laptop manufacturer, specializing in modular and repairable laptops with the goals of promoting longevity and reducing electronic waste. They are a strong proponent of the right to repair movement. Framework laptops have replaceable RAM, storage, ports, keyboards, display bezels, mainboards, and more, making them a great choice for repairability-oriented individuals.
About Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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